Author Archive

Today, Lisa Hook drops by with an article on the relevance of the anti-hero. Please read on.

Anti Heroes and Addiction

The anti-hero has existed since the days of Greek theatre, as a character with more appeal than the conventional hero. Whilst the hero had morals, his counterpart had flaws and this is what makes the anti-hero so attractive to his or her audience. Whether it’s a violent temper, a weakness for the opposite sex or an addiction, this antagonist holds our attention and we root for them, perhaps because they seem more ‘real’.

The Noir Anti-Hero

The anti-hero has appeared in various guises through the history of cinema and literature, from Phillip Marlowe in The Big Sleep to Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre to Lady Macbeth. Through different genres, the anti-hero prevails and historical events have made this character more appealing than ever.

Film noir took the anti-hero to new levels in the 1940s and one of the reasons for this was as a reaction to the atrocities in Europe in World War II. The world was disillusioned and escapism was a way of reaching a new kind of reality. Film noir anti-heroes were hard-boiled detectives, addicted to drink, women, and sometimes drugs.

In The Man with the Golden Arm, Frank Sinatra plays the drug addicted Frankie Machine, determined to live a morally good life when he comes out of prison. Pressure turns him to gambling however and he soon begins his drug addiction once more. Although the film has an upbeat ending, with Frankie kicking his habit, the scene where he goes cold turkey is still considered harrowing by today’s standards. The film remains a reminder about the cold reality of drugs in the U.S. Addiction is not glamorized, but serves as a warning.

The Anti-Hero Today

Political events have always shaped cinema, television and literature, with the anti-hero remaining at the center of the story. Whether it’s Vietnam or 9/11, the events of the 20th and 21st Centuries have shaken us to the core and characters like Frankie Machine, Phillip Marlowe, Dexter and Hannibal become more real for us than traditional heroes.

Dexter Morgan is an anti-hero who is also a serial killer, but who kills with a conscience. He made his appearance in Jeff Lindsay’s crime novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter before appearing on screen. Audiences support him and his decision to kill those who have been confirmed as murderers. Dexter is an intelligent character, working for the police, yet harboring his dark secret and this makes him fascinating and compelling for the audience. He has become an unlikely figurehead for the U.S in the 21st Century.

Another gritty anti-hero is Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Lisbeth is out for revenge on society for what happened to her and she makes a fabulous anti-hero with her fierceness and complex personality. In fact, she has been psychoanalyzed by readers and reviewers, who try to understand what is going on in her mind. She may be autistic; she may be trying to cope with her trauma and therefore has a sort of attachment disorder. Whatever her psychiatric profile, Lisbeth makes a compelling antagonist who is very watchable. Larsson’s series of books are among the highest sellers of the past few years, proving that audiences want a thrilling read and a character who is the driving force behind the stories. The anti-hero is alive and kicking.

More Appeal Than Ever

We celebrate anti-heroes in our literature and on our screens today, more than ever. Why is this? The Global Post claims there is a fault line in the American psyche, that the lines between hero and anti-hero are being blurred and much of this is being laid at the feet of the economic downturn, terrorism and the loss of the American dream. Whatever the reason, it seems we are obsessed with our flawed characters of fiction. This isn’t to say that we are glorifying their flaws; certainly addiction is an issue that is taken very seriously in the U.S today. Frankie Machine’s drug problem was a wake up call to the noir audience of its time and drug abuse remains a very real concern in our society, and one that is receiving much attention. Addiction sufferers can use inpatient drug rehab ratings to find the treatment center that will help them kick their habit and the message is clear: drugs destroy lives. Frankie Machine overcame his heroin addiction in The Man with the Golden Arm and enjoyed a happy ending in this noir classic. The point is that we cared about his journey. Anti-heroes have moral flaws that make them appealing characters because we all relate to moral dilemmas.

The traditional hero is losing his/her appeal in the 21st Century. We want realism, however gritty. Let our anti-heroes be reluctant, angry, narcissistic even. They reflect the times we live in and this is why they work.

“I am very much enjoying this story. Great characters, lots of action, just blazing fun. I’m always sorry when it ends and I can’t wait to read the next installment!”

Thanks again, Lily! We’re thrilled by the responses to our serial. Magic Man is now available at Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Click the book cover below to read an excerpt and for all buy links.

Don’t forget to grab the first four books in the Anti-Heroes serial too! And New Girl is free!

Just popped in to let you know The Black Act Book 1: Witch Twins Born is now free at Amazon. Click the highlighted text here or the book cover below to grab a copy now. Thank you bunches for helping me get the book free over there, folks. I’d hug you all if I could. It’s sitting at #37 in fairy tales. Whoop with me!

Keep watching for a sneak peek at the cover for Book 2: Witch Twins Secrets coming soon!

I hope June is treating you all great wherever you are. Things have been wet here, but the sun is fighting back and we’re getting some nice weather now. Also, I finally posted pics of Abigail, the new puppy, over at FB. Take a peek here if you like.

The Black Act Page

And The Black Act page is now live. Click the highlighted text to visit it now. The first book is up there, plus an excerpt, the old book trailer and cover from the original release, and faery inspiration pics. You can also click on the banner below to visit. I’ll soon be adding a PDF of the first book you can download.

In the next couple weeks, I’ll be posting a sneak peek at the cover for Book 2: Witch Twins Secrets. I’ve also spruced up my FB author page with the book cover and banner for the new release. Click the highlighted text to take a peek and like the page.

Thanks again for the downloads and sales, readers! It’s greatly appreciated.

The Black Act Book 1: Witch Twins Born is now available for free at Smashwords and Kobo. I’ll post an update when it goes free at B&N (you can grab it for under a dollar there now). It’s also live at Amazon for 95 cents, but if anyone would be kind enough to report it to Amazon as free elsewhere (you can find the report link at the bottom of the product details) this will help me get it free on Kindle also. And I’ll love you forever. And send you house cleaning and dish washing fairies. For real. Even ones that will fix your car. No kidding.

Anyhow, click the links above or below to grab a free copy now! Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be adding a page to the site for The Black Act, where I’ll post the maps, reviews, and other tidbits. And The Black Act Book 2: Witch Twins Secrets will be coming soon! I’ll post a cover sneak peek in the next couple weeks as well. Be sure to check out the free reads page here, too. Soon I’ll be adding The Black Act Book 1 and Anti-Heroes Book 1 to it, and I’ll include direct downloads of the PDF, MOBI, and EPUB versions.

Blurb: This is a serial fantasy novel that will be released in regular installments. Watch for Book 2: Witch Twins Secrets coming soon.

The history of a curse is filled with bloody battles, bitter hatred, and dark secrets.

Through five generations, ghosts of war haunt the wise women. When the rebellion of Glenna ends, their curse sleeps bound in the Tunnels of the Dead, waiting for its chance to re-awaken the war between the wood people and Dalthwein clans. Claire, a wise woman born in the valley of the fae, unwittingly helps it escape imprisonment, while her twin sister Anna receives psychic glimpses of ancient secrets she must unravel. With her scribe teacher Rosalind, she also struggles to uncover the reasons behind Claire’s strange behavior, ever escalating since the death of their guild mother, Grianne.

The Age of the Wise Women will cease if the curse does not end with Anna and Claire. Perhaps inheriting the mistakes of their ancestors and learning the truths of their identities will bring great suffering for these witch twins.

In Book 1: Witch Twins Born Claire begins to confess the truth to Anna, and Anna discovers her twin is having an affair with a woodman named Luthien.